Selling ream wrap for private labels

ABSTRACT

A method of selling ream wrapper to be utilized in wrapping reams of paper to be sold under a private label or non-mill brand name.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/482,619, filed Jun. 26, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a method of selling ream wrapperto be utilized in wrapping reams of paper to be sold under a privatelabel or non-mill brand name.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Ream wrap is the wrapper around packages of cut size (8½×11,etc.) paper that is used for printers, computers, copy machines, andother office or personal printing needs. This wrapper traditionally hasbeen sold to paper mills. Paper mills make and wrap reams that are soldunder their own mill brand names (Domtar, Georgia Pacific, Hammermill,etc.) and make products that are sold as private labels. Private labelsare reams produced for resellers of reamed paper (Office Depot, Viking,Corporate Express, etc.) and equipment makers (Hewlett Packard, Xerox,etc.) to be sold under their brand names or private labels.

[0004] Private labelers do not make or wrap paper. Private labelerscontract with a mill or mills to produce and wrap the paper in a wrapperbearing the private labeler's name and/or design. This private labelerprovides the mill with a ream wrap design bearing the graphics developedfor the private labeler. The mill provides this design to the mill'schoice of a ream wrap supplier. The mill purchases ream wrap from thisream wrap supplier to wrap these private label reams.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention comprises a method of selling private labelream wraps involving a direct relationship between the ream wrapmanufacturer and the private labeler. The present invention comprises amethod for selling ream wrap for wrapping private reams comprising:developing ream wrap print designs for a private labeler. A contract isestablished between the ream wrap manufacturer and the private labelerfor the exclusive use of the print designs for the ream wrap. Theprivate labeler is paid for the use of the designs. The ream wrapmanufacturer obtains the license to print and/or sell the ream wrapusing the private labeler's designs. The ream wrap manufacturer, inturn, sells the ream wrap directly to the paper mills that make thereamed papers.

[0006] The print design for the private label ream wrap is developed forthe private labeler. Therefore, under copyright law, the wrapper printdesign is the intellectual property of the private labeler. The objectof the present invention is for the ream wrap producer to contractdirectly with the private labeler to use its intellectual property (reamwrap print design) in return for a payment or rebate directly from theream wrap producer to the private labeler. The paper mill wrapping thereams purchases the ream wrap from the ream wrap producer at pricesnegotiated between the ream wrap producer and the paper mill. The reamwrap producer would be the exclusive source for the private labeler'sream wrap, and the mill would only be able to purchase ream wrap fromthe ream wrap producer who contracted with and paid the private labeler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The traditional method of selling private label ream wrapinvolved a private labeler contracting with several paper mills toproduce its paper; the mill then wrapped the paper in a wrapper printedwith the private labeler's design. Several paper companies would producethe paper which was then placed in several types of ream wrap (made bydifferent ream wrap producers) having the print design of the privatelabeler.

[0009] The difficulty with this practice is that different paper millsproduce different quality papers, and different ream wrap manufacturersproduce different quality ream wrappers. The present invention ensuresconsistent quality ream wrap and paper.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, Ream Wrap Company Aprocures and pays for (either through a direct contracting fee orrebate) a license to use and print the private labeler's print design,and Ream Wrap Company A becomes the sole printer and producer of theream wrap bearing the private labeler's brand name. The ream wrapcompany then procures paper from the paper company or companies approvedby the private labelers to fill the ream wrap.

[0011] In another embodiment, Ream Wrap Company A procures and pays for(either through a direct contracting fee or rebate) a license to use andprint the private labeler's print design, and Ream Wrap Company Abecomes the sole printer and producer of the ream wrap bearing theprivate labeler's brand name. Ream Wrap Company A then negotiates acontracted price with Paper Company X (or more than one paper company)and sells the ream wrap to Paper Company X, which, in turn wraps theprivate label reams.

[0012] By providing the wrapper print design to only one ream wrapproducer, a better and more consistent quality ream wrapper is producedin contrast to private label ream wrappers produced by various ream wrapproducers. As a result, the consumer or user can better recognize andrely upon the quality of the private labeler's product. Further, thedirect relationship between the ream wrap manufacturer and the papermill would result in more consistent quality of the paper productitself.

1. A method for selling ream wrap for wrapping private label reamscomprising: developing ream wrap print designs for a ream wrap privatelabeler; contracting with said private labeler for exclusive use of saiddesigns; making payments to said private labeler for said use of saiddesigns; printing and producing said ream wrap using said private labeldesigns; procuring paper from paper mills to fill reams or selling saidream wrap to paper mills approved by said private labeler or selected byream wrap manufacturer; contracting with a ream wrap producer by papermanufacturer to purchase said ream wrap bearing said private labeler'sbrand name and design; using said the private label ream wrap by saidpaper manufacturer to wrap paper products.